What was Never Said

Minerva woke. She sat up, a shallow breath rattling in her chest. She fire had gone wind was howling outside and the cold was creeping in. The chill combined with the fractured memories had disturbed her slumber. When it was too cold…it was a reminder to her she wasn't completely the same after taking four stunners to the chest. And an irritating reminder she wasn't as young as she used to be. She waved a hand and the fireplace roared to life.

She slipped out of bed, lit a candle, and shrugged on bedroom robes, and slippers. Minerva knew perfectly well she should be asleep. She had far too much to do in the morning. But, there was something she had to say. It was far too late to say it, but maybe just saying it would paused at the door of her bedroom to compose herself before entering her office.

She stood in front of the portrait of a grey stone wall with black curtains on either side. "Severus? Severus.I want to speak with you."

She stared at the painted stone wall, but she wasn't very patient at the moment. She couldn't decide if it was because of what she wanted to say or what had woken her or the cold. Or all of that.

"I know you're there.I've seen the curtains in the background rustling for months." A much shorter pause."As headmistress of this school I order you to show yourself for one brief conversation."

A pale, outraged figure, burst out from the curtains on the right, stumbling as if he had been pushed forward, his black eyes reproachful he said,"I have nothing to say. I can't help it isn't potions or Legilmency-I'm even less equipped to help the students running through your door than you are. If you want a conversation,why don't you wake him up?" The painted man jerked his head towards the right at Albus' slumbering portrait. This time the painted man was the one who paused to let his words sink in and watch the candle in Minerva's hands shake and her eyes fill slightly with tears of fury and frustration.

"Oh, of course," sneered the painted man."You've made this office a pathetic, bloody shrine. Far too soon…See? I shouldn't be here. Snape didn't deserve this spot and neither do I."

Minerva might have noted the strange division in the portrait's sense of self if her mind hadn't been clouded with white-hot restraint."You don't have to do anything, but listen.I will say one thing. Then, you can sulk like a sniveling child behind those ghastly curtains until I leave this post for all I care."

" is it?"

All the emotion from her previous outburst seemed to have drained away,"I'm sorry…You are not a coward. Thank you, for everything."

The painted man was stunned and at a loss,"I am not Severus Snape."

"I know," sighed Minerva heavily.

"It means nothing coming from me."

Her gaze traveled down to the the candle in her hands. She nodded and pulled her robe collar tighter."…I just had to say it. Thank you." She began to turn painted Severus Snape made a sound as if preparing to speak and while Minerva stilled she did not look away from her painted man's discomfort in speaking on the subject was clear,"He understood…Perhaps…he felt he deserved it."

"Yet another point we cannot agree on," Minerva's eyes met the painted eyes with a spark of defiance."…Severus. "

The painted figure blinked and hesitated before saying in a tone slightly prickling with irritation at her stubborn stance,"So it would seem." Before disappearing behind the black curtains again he quietly added,"Good night, Minerva."

"Good night," she said closing the door to her room.